If you are new to the world of online casinos, it's likely you’ll encounter various terms and phrases you aren't familiar with. To bring you up to speed, this glossary will give a brief explanation of all the important terminology that often crops up, as well as certain clauses you’ll find tucked away in the terms and conditions. Read on for the ultimate casino glossary brought to you by NoDeposit365.com.
After a bonus has been claimed, you will only be able to complete the wagering requirements by playing selected games. Whole game categories, such as live casino and bingo, and even various slots may be excluded from bonus wagering.
It’s important you make a note of any mention of ineligible games before you start wagering. If you play just one of them, the casino is within their rights to forfeit your bonus.
Game weighting determines how much of your bet contributes towards the wagering requirement. Certain games are ‘weighted’ down to counteract their relatively high payout potential, such as those in the live casino or 2D table games.
For example, whereas a slot will count 100% of your spin value, blackjack may only be set at 10%. For every $1 wagered, just $0.10 will be deducted from the wagering requirements figure.
It’s very useful to consider game weighting to increase the efficiency of your bonus wagering. To help with this, you can read our full game weighting manual for some extra tips.
You will likely encounter a maximum betting limit when playing with a casino bonus. This is a countermeasure against you placing a high bet, hitting an excessive win and thus completing the wagering requirements much easier.
At most casinos, max bet limits won’t be automatically applied to each game. This means you’ll have to manually control your bet level, being careful not to exceed the stated limit and invalidating potential winnings.
When it comes to deposit match bonuses, you will need to make a minimum, single deposit to activate the reward.
You may see wagering requirements referred to as turnover or playthrough requirements. They are perhaps the most common and important clause listed in a set of terms and conditions, signifying your chances of converting a bonus into real money.
You will see wagering requirements displayed as a multiplier, typically between 1x and 60x depending on the offer. This indicates the number of times you must wager the bonus amount (or free spin winnings) before a withdrawal is possible.
Example: With a $10 bonus and 25x wagering requirement, you would need to place $250 ($10 x 25) worth of bets to convert your remaining bonus balance into real money.
Due to the importance of this term, we have put together a comprehensive wagering requirements guide.
Upon successfully converting a casino bonus into real cash, you will only be able to withdraw up to a specified amount – typically between $50 to $100. If you win more than this, the casino will forfeit any excess upon a withdrawal request.
Withdrawal limits will almost certainly be applied to no deposit bonuses due to their completely free nature. On the other hand, you’ll be able to keep everything you win with a deposit match bonus.
Bonus abuse refers to the unethical or fraudulent practice of exploiting casino bonuses in ways that go against the intended terms and conditions. One example is by creating multiple accounts in order to repeatedly claim the same bonus.
Credited as part of a promotional offer, bonus money (or bonus cash) allows you to play in the casino without using your own funds. It cannot be withdrawn as it is tied to wagering requirements which must be met before being converted into real money.
With cashback bonuses, you will receive a percentage of your losses back over a specific period – usually credited in bonus money. This is designed to provide some compensation if you hit a streak of bad luck.
Example: A 50% cashback bonus over 7 days. Should you lose $200 within this period, you would receive a $100 bonus.
Sometimes known as a reload bonus, the casino will match the value of your deposit by a specified percentage (i.e. 50% or 100%) in extra bonus cash. There will likely be a cap placed onto the offer, limiting the bonus amount you can claim.
Example: A 200% deposit match bonus up to $100. If you deposit $50, you will receive an additional $100 in bonus cash. If you deposit something like $300, you will still only receive $100 as this is the maximum amount permitted.
Free spins allow you to play an online casino slot without using your own money. They are awarded in batches of tens – commonly between 10 and 100 – and usually credited on a game chosen by the casino.
You may see free spins referred to as cash spins which indicate any winnings are credited as real money, or bonus spins which mean wagering requirements are attached.
No deposit bonuses are most commonly offered to new players as a way to test out the casino with no financial risk involved. They are a popular sign-up incentive when you register a new account, either awarding bonus cash or free spins.
Every no deposit bonus found at NoDeposit365.com also allows you to win real money upon adhering to the terms and conditions. Check out how to evaluate no deposit bonuses to help you pick out the most favourable offers.
This is a bonus awarded without the inclusion of wagering requirements. With no wager free spins, anything you win is credited as real cash and thus eligible for instant withdrawal. Although rare, you can check out the current no wagering bonuses at NoDeposit365.com.
If you encourage a friend to sign up to a particular online casino, you will receive a bonus yourself as a thank you for the referral. The bonus is usually credited if the individual makes a deposit or wager in real money.
A ‘sticky bonus’ cannot be withdrawn from your account, even after you have met the wagering requirements. You will need to win in excess of the bonus reward in order to cash out a real money profit.
Super spins, sometimes known as mega spins, can be denoted as free spins worth more than $1. Regular free spins are typically credited at the lowest common denominator within the slot game, i.e. $0.10 or $0.20.
Super spins are a rare type of casino bonus usually credited upon making a sizable deposit or reserved for VIP players as part of a loyalty package.
Online casinos are happy to reward new players with a welcome bonus – also known as a sign-up bonus. For registering a new account, you are given either bonus cash or free spins, or sometimes even both!
Has all this talk about casino welcome bonuses put you in the mood to claim your own? If you create a new account via NoDeposit365.com, there’s a massive variety of no deposit and match bonuses up for grabs from tried and trusted online casinos.
Also known as tumbling reels or avalanche slots, these games replace winning symbols with new ones, potentially creating chains of consecutive wins from a single spin.
Classic slots were first designed to imitate real-life fruit machines as you’ll see on a Las Vegas casino floor. They operate on a simple 3-reel mechanism with one payline, and use classic slot symbols such as fruits, bars and lucky sevens.
Instead of using traditional paylines, cluster pays slots award wins when bunches of matching symbols lie adjacent horizontally or vertically. These slots often use a cascading reels payout mechanism.
Some slots incorporate one or several fixed jackpot amounts into their gameplay. Their values are dictated by a multiplier of your stake, with prizes often ranging from 10x up to 10,000x.
Megaways slots feature a variable amount of paylines. This occurs because the number of symbols on each reel will alternate at random, typically between two and seven. Most megaways slots offer up to 117,649 ways to win on each spin.
Often referred to as network jackpots, a progressive jackpot increases in value by taking into account the bets of all players. Upon each losing spin, a percentage of each wager is added to the prize pool until eventually dropping into one lucky player’s account.
Slingo is a unique hybrid game that combines elements of online slots and bingo. It mostly relies on luck, but also adds an element of strategy as you attempt to complete lines on a square grid by matching numbers with those on your card.
Video slots are the most abundant type of slot game you’ll find in an online casino, offering immersive gameplay with advanced graphics, animations and interactive features. They typically have multiple paylines and various bonus features.
Most slots use an Autoplay function which spins the reels a predetermined number of times without requiring you to manually click the ‘spin’ button. This feature can be stopped if you exceed a certain win or loss limit.
Modern-day video slots incorporate various bonus features which can trigger upon any spin from the base game. Bonus rounds include the likes of in-game free spins and pick-and-win rounds.
Some slots, such as those developed by Play’n GO, offer a ‘gamble’ feature which comes into play upon a winning spin. You are given a chance to double your winnings in a secondary game of chance, although everything can be lost if you guess wrong.
Paylines serve as a mechanism that define winning combinations on the reels of a slot game. When you align a sequence of symbols along a payline (typically from left to right), prizes will be awarded based on the specific symbols and payline configuration.
In ‘pick and win’ bonus rounds, you are presented with a selection of options represented by different symbols. Your task is to choose a certain number of items, revealing hidden prizes beneath usually in the form of instant cash rewards.
A random number generator (RNG) is a computer algorithm used in casino games to produce unpredictable and random outcomes. It ensures fairness by generating numbers that cannot be predicted over an infinite number of gamerounds.
RTP indicates the average amount of wagered money that players can expect to receive back over extensive play. Expressed as a percentage, the RTP of casino games typically range somewhere from 90% up to 98%.
When (usually three or more) scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels of a slot, they can trigger various bonuses like free spins and bonus games. It is often in these rounds where the game’s top multiplier prize is won.
Also referred to as variance, volatility measures the risk and reward level of an online slot. It describes the frequency of wins in conjunction with the size of payouts. For example, low volatility slots pay out on a regular basis, albeit at more moderate levels.
Wild symbols are a common feature in online slot games. They substitute for other symbols (except for special symbols like Scatters) to help complete winning combinations. Expanding Wilds cover entire reels whilst Sticky Wilds stay in place for additional spins.
In 'Win Both Ways' slots, winning combinations also start on the rightmost reel and extend to the left. This effectively doubles the potential ways to form winning combinations. The most popular game which uses this payout mechanism is Starburst.
If you’re interested in how slot mechanisms affect its payout levels, we have put together an RTP and volatility manual for your convenience. This will come in especially useful when trying to complete the wagering requirements of a casino bonus.
The 21+3 side bet combines your first two cards with the dealer's upcard to create a Texas hold’em poker hand. Payouts are based on the strength of this hand (e.g. a 3-of-a-kind will award more than a flush).
American Blackjack follows the same rules as standard Blackjack but with a couple of slight adjustments. If the dealer’s first card is a 10-value or Ace, they will check for a ‘blackjack’ before the game continues. Players can also ‘double down’ on any initial two-card hand.
When your hand value exceeds 21, this is known as going ‘bust’. You will automatically lose in this scenario. The dealer can also go bust; an outcome which occurs because they must keep drawing cards until reaching a value of 17 or higher.
With the ‘Bust It’ side bet, you wager on the outcome of the dealer going bust (exceeding 21). If this occurs, payouts are increased exponentially dependent on the number of cards in the dealer's hand.
You can double your initial bet after receiving the first two cards, receiving just one more card and committing to stand afterward. This is usually undertaken upon receiving a total of between 9 and 11 after the initial deal.
After the initial deal, you select ‘hit’ from the on-screen menu to receive an additional card. You can keep hitting at your own discretion until you go bust or stand. The goal is to reach as close to 21 as possible without going over.
Insurance is an optional side bet that protects against the dealer having a ‘blackjack’ (Ace + 10-value card). It costs half the original bet and pays out at a ratio of 2:1.
You place an additional bet on whether your initial two cards will be of identical value. The payout for this will depend on the type of pair dealt, i.e. a coloured pair, suited pair or perfect pair (same colour and suit).
Pontoon works with the same scoring system as regular Blackjack although both the dealer's cards are not revealed until all player actions are completed. The ‘five-card trick’ is also in-play, where drawing five cards and not exceeding 21 beats all standard hands.
When the total value of your hand is identical to the dealer’s at the end of the game, this is known as ‘push’. This can only be achieved upon reaching a score of 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or hitting a ‘blackjack’. Your stake is returned in this occurrence.
If you wish to maintain your current score and not receive any more cards, you must select ‘stand’ from the on-screen menu.
If you are dealt a pair of identical value cards (not necessarily the same colour or suit), you can split the cards into two separate hands. Each one is played exclusively, where you carry on as you would in a regular game.
Some Blackjack variations offer the chance to ‘surrender’. This is where you forfeit a portion of your stake and end the hand. This at least guarantees some type of return after receiving a bad deal.
Being one of the classic table games, Blackjack is part and parcel of the best online casinos. There’s loads of variations you can play, either using an RNG-format or in the live casino. You can claim some of the best no deposit blackjack bonuses and start playing for free right now!
American Roulette includes an additional green 00 pocket, increasing the house edge and altering the overall odds of hitting a winning number.
Betting on a group of four adjacent numbers to receive an 8:1 payout if successful. You place your chip directly in the centre of four numbers on the roulette table.
The classic roulette variant comprising numbers 1-36 and a single green zero (0). This is the most popular version of Roulette found at online casinos due to its favourable odds.
French Roulette comes with the player-favourite ‘La Partage’ rule that refunds half of your even-money bet if the ball lands on 0. The layout of the betting table is displayed differently to the European version.
Placing bets on a specific number or a small groups of numbers within the roulette layout, i.e. the numbers between 0 and 36.
An ‘orphelins’ bet covers the selection of eight numbers not included in Voisins or Tiers. It includes a combination of straight and split bets offering different payouts.
Placing bets on numbers grouped by certain categories, i.e. odd/even or red/black, for a 1:1 payout. You can also cover roughly a third of the wheel with bets such as ‘1st twelve’ which covers the numbers 1-12 and offers a 2:1 payout.
Betting on a single number. This offers the game’s highest solitary payout (35:1) if your bet is successful.
Betting on two adjacent numbers on the betting table, increasing the odds of winning although reducing the payout to 19:1.
Placing a bet on a row of three numbers, such as 1-3 or 16-18. You place your chip on the outside edge of the first number and will receive a 11:1 payout if successful.
Commonly referred to as just Tiers, this special roulette bet covers twelve numbers from 27 to 33 on the opposite side of the wheel to the green zero. It consists of different straight, split and corner bets which provide varying payouts.
Often shortened to just Voisins, this is a special roulette bet which covers a total of seventeen numbers on either side of the ‘0’. It includes all the numbers between 22 and 25 on the wheel.
Crypto casinos are online gambling platforms that operate using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. They provide the same games found at a regular casino and also allow you to convert crypto into fiat currency at the current exchange rate.
Devised by a French mathematician, this is a betting system used for even-money bets on Roulette. After each winning bet you decrease your stake by one unit, and after each losing bet, you increase your stake by one unit. The idea is that a small profit becomes more likely after long-term play.
Also known as a croupier, a dealer is a person responsible for managing and conducting casino table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker. They play a crucial role in replicating the authentic casino environment whilst also adding a layer of trust.
A high roller, also known as a whale, is a term used in the gambling industry to refer to individuals who wager large amounts of money on casino games. These individuals are known for their willingness to place high-stakes bets far above the average bet size.
The house edge is a mathematical concept used to describe the average percentage of each bet that the casino can expect to retain as profit. This figure depends on the game and rules in place, but will always offer you a winning chance despite favouring the casino in the long-term.
Keno is a popular lottery-style gambling game often found at online casinos. It's a game of chance where players select numbers, usually between 1 and 80, in the hope of matching them with the numbers drawn.
The Martingale system is a popular betting strategy usually implemented on Roulette. It's based on the idea of doubling your stake after each loss on an even-money bet. The intention is to recover previous losses and eventually making a small profit.
KYC is an acronym of ‘know your customer’ and serves as a way for online casinos to verify the identity of their players. If requested, you will need to send in copies of personal documents such as a passport, proof of address and source of funds. We explain more about this process in our KYC guide.
Olivia King is our Senior Editor as well as our webmaster. She is in charge of ensuring that we are providing you with the best no deposit bonuses in the market, regardless of your location or personal preferences.
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